Chelsea1

I booked New York to Hamburg in Queens Grill leaving New York this coming 18th October.

It was significantly cheaper than NY to SOTON and includes British airways flight back from Hamburg to London.

I would vote for Veuve coming back on the QM2 - agree LP is tasteless. Would actually prefer Moet, or Heidseick to LP.

I do sort of agree regarding the 2 nights, however when I suggested 4 nights previously that was met with horror and "what will I do on a ship for 4 days?"

This October we are boarding in New Your sailing to Hamburg and I also offered the full segment, which was met with even greater horror. I had to offer!

The 2 nights with a flight home is acceptable, so I have booked it.

Also mum is excited to sail down the Elbe and dock in Hamburg even just for a day, as I really like travelling in Germany , as did Dad, and she has not been.

To be honest with the extras - first class train from Manchester to Southampton, upgraded direct flight back to Manchester and the single supplement for a mid-ships balcony - it is turning out to be a pretty expensive 2 nights.... and I am already being asked if the "noise and smell of the engines" will be a problem.

🙂

I agree with you. I very rarely wear jeans to dinner anywhere, regardless of a dress code being in place.

I will definitely report back!

So, 2.5 years on, and I have finally persauded mum and booked her on a 2 night cruise to Hamburg with flight direct home to Manchester. The original plan in 2017 did not happen,  but she is now ready (aged 81)!

We will be on the 18th October New York to Southampton transatlantic and mum will board in Southampton. I will collect her from the train station.

Hope she is up for a Hamburg party cruise 🙂 

I have not been on Cunard in Vietnam, but last November on Holland America we had multiple Vietnam ports and cruise line arranged the multiple entry visa. Same on Princess a few years ago. 

That is interesting to know about the Asia flights - we have only done cruises within Asia so normally fly into/ out of Hong Kong and Singapore, with return flights. I just assumed one way would be very expensive.

Good to know for the future as I would love to fly out to Singapore (on Singapore Airlines) and cruise home, time permitting in the future!

The original post was regarding the cost of a one way flight on Singapore Airlines from LHR to Singapore, where Cunard did not come up with the better price. 

The Singapore Airlines price quoted actually looked very reasonable to me as normaly they are very high for oneway intercontinental flights, particularly to Singapore which is a premium route.

I think Norweigan offer genuine oneway non-stop transantlantic fares - but they considered a low cost carrier.

The prices for the October flights I booked yesterday have gone down substantially (over 50%) since I first enquired a couple of months ago, and there are no current sales for these dates.

It probably is worth checking more than once.

I just booked London Heathrow to JFK business class upgrades for £940 oneway per person through Cunard. The cost of a oneway business ticket is £6,400ppn on American and BA! The cheapest business return was £3,600ppn and I would not be able to use the return leg, so the Cunard fare is a good deal. 

They also had oneway Delta Business First upgrade for £640.

The Cunard booking Agent was very helpful.

I think Caviar is available on the QG menu.

It just sounds rather arrogant to me to expect anything somebody fancies to be brought to them QG. Maybe it is just the way you say it.

I am seriously actually slightly concerned about missing the ship.....finishing a conference in Basking Ridge, NJ at noon on October 18th and then have to get to Brooklyn cruise terminal in time for boarding.

Will be great to be back on the QM2 again - last few cruises have been on Holland America due to schedules. They were good, particularly the Westerdam in Asia, but I love the QM2 as a ship.

This is my first proper transatlantic - only other experience was a southern crossing to FT Lauderdale on Oasis of the Seas, which was interesting, but not really geared up for a proper crossing.

I do hope we meet up on Board.

Clare

Very excited as have just booked QM2 transatlantic in Queens Grill, departing New York on 18th October this year to Hamburg.

Last voyage on QM2 was our wedding in 2013, mid-Tasman Sea between Sydney and New Zealand, followed by a circumnavigation of New Zealand. That was an amazing trip with Commodore Rynd in charge.

Really looking forward to being back on QM2. Hoping weather in October is kind.

Thanks for the feedback, I looked at both NCL and MSC, and MSC is certainly cheaper for the Yacht Club than Haven.

It's interesting though, most of the MSC suites are sold, but virtually all the Haven suites are available for the same weeks.

Is this the NCL bidding thing - everyone booking a balcony, or whatever, and then waiting for the bidding to start?

Does this change the Haven atmosphere, having everyone on an ebay style bidding system?

I'm not being rude - I'll do the same if thats the way it works - but on most cruises I've booked the the suites sell out early.

So now that the Encore Inaugural Miami Cruise (17 November 2019) has been cancelled, I need to find an alternative.

This cruise fitted perfectly with dates, coming from the UK (9+ hour flight) and length - also fitting in with a work visit.

I was also really excited about a brand new ship, versus the ports on the occasion.

We (husband and I) want to do something different from the ships sailing from the UK and enjoy the American style cruises.

Having sailed with RCI, Princess and HAL before in Asia/Canada and a Transatlantic, we would prefer to try something different - the experience this time being the ship.

We really enjoyed a short cruise on Disney, but not sure I would want to do a longer Disney cruise.

The best alternatives seem to be from Miami: MSC Seaside, Carnival Horizon, or NCL Breakaway.

Departure dates must be beteen 9 and 18 November for 7-9 nights.

Not too bothered by the ports, but we do like a good variety of dining (not all gormet) and flexible times (on HAL virtually everything shut at 8.30PM!), evening entertainment - music, show , variety of lively bars, Casino on a few nights. During the day if possible a cinema/film and somewhere quiet and shady outside - we are too fair for much sunbathing, but do like to see what is happening around the pools and sports areas and then retreat to the shade.  

Have not done a Caribbean cruise before, other than the 3 night Disney, so would appreciate ideas from regular cruisers here.

Price-wise, as it is a long haul trip, Suite/Haven class is the benchmark with drinks package included.

I do qualify for a 15% discount from NCL if booked by 20th February due to their cancellation (after I manage to retrieve the $300 they charged me for "my" cancellation:))

Thanks for ideas.

Coming from the UK and knowing "Which" - the consumer association who carried out the survey - I would guess that the target population is rather limited - probably UK only, aged 50+.

While I just fall into that bracket, I would generally far rather cruise with the 5 "Worst" cruise lines (with the exception of Cruise and Maritime), than the 5 "Best" (with the possible exception of Viking).

Thanks very much, I will call them.

I was booked on the 17 November Encore cruise from Miami that has been cancelled.

I booked direct with NCL and the refund notice has just come through, minus £270 (approx. $300) cancellation fee.

Is it normal to be charged a cancellation fee when NCL cancel?

As I said on one of the other threads on this topic, the prices are actually higher for Champagne and Grey Goose,and probably the other $27+ wines, than they are in the American Bar in the Savoy Hotel, London - consistently voted one of the top bars in the world. The same champage was $12.50 on Holland America in November and included in the $15 Elite pakage limit. $29.95 for a glass of basic champagne is truly unbelievable.

• Price of a glass of Nicolas Feuillatte NV Champagne - $12.50 on HAL in November and $29.95 on NCL new January menu posted on the UBP price thread.

The prices for a much better quality glass of Champagne, and Grey Goose, are cheaper at The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London than this NCL list and that is voted one of the best bars in the World.

If you like a glass of champagne there is a lot to worry about with the UBP!

$29.95 for a glass of Nicolas F champagne is truly absurd. That was less than the $15 package limit on a different cruise line in November.

Thanks for that - I thought that might be the case. Was wondering if it would be possible to do the previous Bermuda cruise and the carry on to Miami, but I guess not!